Axle construction



April 10, 1928. I 1,665,332

H. H. TIMKEN AXLE CONSTRUCTI 0N Filed July 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet lApril 10, 1928. 1,665,332

H. H. TIMKEN AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig,5f,

Patented A r. 1c, 1928.

uurrsn s'rA'rss HENRY H. TIMKEN, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIMKENROLLER BEARING COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AXLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application 'filed July 16,

My invention relates to axle constructions, particularly to railway caraxles provided with roller bearings; and has for its principal object toprevent failure of the axle in the event of failure of one of saidroller bearings.

In ordinary roller bearing car axle constructions, failure of a rollerbearing, due to breaking of rollers or other cause, frequently resultsin a deep groove being cut in the axle, weakening the axle to such anextent that it is apt to break. Inorder to prevent this, the presentinvention provides the housings in which the roller bearings are mountedwith portions or members normal- 1y out of contactwith the axle, so asnot to interfere with the rotation thereof, but

' adapted, in the event of failure of a roller and claimed. I

bearing, to seize the axle and prevent its further rotation. This willprevent the grooving and breaking of the axle above described. Theinvention further consists in the car axle and in the vparts andcombinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described In theaccompanying drawings. which form part of this specification and whereinlike reference characters indicate like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of an axle embodyingmy invention, said axle being a railway car axle of the outboard trucktype,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of an inboard trucktype of axle embodying my invention, i

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 44 in Fig. 3.

' A car wheel 1 is fixed on an axle 2 to rotate therewith. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the wheel 1 is spaced from the end3 of the axle 2 and the end of said axle extends into a housing 4 orjournal box, conical roller bearings 5 being interposed between the endsof said journal box 4 andthe axle 2. An annular closure ring 6 isprovided for the inner end of the journal box and a closure cap 7 forthe outer end thereof, said ring and said cap being secured to thejournal box, by bolts 8. A nut 9 is provided at the end of the axle forholding the hearings in place.

The middle portion of the housing has an the line 1926. Serial No.122,746.

annular portion 10 that extends around the tending ribs 11. This annularportion 10 does not interfere with the normal rotation of the axle.

In the event of failure of one of the roller bearings 5, the journal box4 (carrying the weight of the car body) will drop down on the axle 2,.thus bringing a portion of the ring 10 into engagement with the axle 2.Said ring is of ironor steel and will tend to seize or bind when itengages the axle. If the axle rotates in said ring 10, chipsor shavingsmay be worn from the ring or the axle or both. These chips will fill upthe space between the ring 10 and the axle 2 and will prevent rotationof the axle in the journal box or housing. This will cause the wheel tobe dragged along the rail, but

will prevent the breaking of the axle-and end portions 22 in each ofwhich is disposed a roller bearing 5. The end of the housing is closedby a closure ring 6 that is secured thereto as by screws 23.

Adjacent to each of the enlarged end portions 22 in which the bearings 5are mounted, the tubular housing is provided with a thickened portion 24having a bore considerably smaller than the normal bore of the housingand spaced only a slight distance away from the axle 2. As in theconstruction above described, failure of a roller bearing will result inthe portion of the housing having a small bore coming. into contact withthe axle and seizing it to prevent rotation thereof.

The constructions hereinbefore described have the very great advantageof insuring against the breakage of axles in roller hearing axleconstructions. Obviously the exact location and construction of themember that engages the axle in the event of failure of roller bearingis not an essential feature of the invention; and I do not wish to belimited to the precise construction shown.

What I claim is:

l. A car axle construction comprising an axle, a housing therefor and aroller been said housing having a ing interposed between said housingand said axle, said housing having an annular portion of steel or ironsurrounding said axle and normally slightly spaced therefrom, whereby,in the event of failure of said roller bearing, said annular portionengages said axle to prevent rotation thereof.

2. A car axle construction comprising an axle, a housing therefor, aroller bearing interposed between said housing and said axle, portioncomposed mainly of iron and located adjacent to said bearing andnormally slightly spaced above said axle whereby, said roller bearing,said annular member engages said axle to prevent rotation thereof.

in the event of failure of.

' 3. A car axle construction comprising an ing cones onthe end portionofsaid axle and taper rollers interposed betweenvsaid cups and bones,said hub havinga bore of slightly greater diameter than the'end 0rtionof said axle so asnormhally to be c ear Y Y of said axle'and adapted tobind-saidaxle in case the rollers fail.

Signed at Canton, Ohio, this of,

July, 1926.

HENRY H. TIMKEN.

